Richard (Dick) Thomas MacWherter passed away on December 13, 2025, at the age of 98, at his daughter’s home surrounded by his loving family.

Dick was born April 5,1927, to John Evans and Joan Crocker MacWherter in Alton, Illinois. He and his older brother, Johnnie, were raised in Springfield, Illinois, where his dad was Mayor.

Dick enlisted in the United States Navy in March of 1945 and reported to the Naval Station Great Lakes for boot camp two weeks after his high school graduation. He was a Seaman First Class-S1c, assigned to Fire Control on the USS Springfield, patrolling the South China Sea. Aboard the USS Springfield, he was part of the United States Naval Fleet present at the official ceremony for the surrender of Japan. Dick was proud of his service to the United States in World War II and passed down his love of country to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

After honorably separating from the Navy in 1946, Dick attended the University of Missouri in Columbia. He was an active member in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and it was on a double date with a fellow fraternity brother that he met his wife and lifelong love, Mary Putnam Hudson.

In 1950, Dick graduated with a BS degree in Business and Public Administration. He and Mary were married later that fall on September 23, in Kansas City, Missouri. Dick and Mary lived in Kansas City, Missouri and then in Alton, Illinois, where he worked as an insurance underwriter. In 1956, they moved to Boulder, Colorado, after falling in love with the beauty and western independence of Colorado while on a family vacation trip.

In 1961, Dick and Mary moved to Greeley, building a home they would live in until 2022. Dick and Mary raised their four daughters in Greeley and formed many close friendships that would last a lifetime. Dick spent 40 years in the insurance industry. In 1990, he retired as a local insurance agent, partner and former President of Flood & Peterson Insurance, Inc. He served on state and national insurance boards for the BIG I, Independent Insurers. In addition to his professional affiliations and commitments, Dick was a very active member of his community alongside his wife Mary. He was the founding Board President of Resurrection Christian School and The Resource Center, the President of the Board of Dayspring Christian Academy, and the Chairman of the Weld County Republicans.

Throughout his lifetime Dick would serve on many other boards and volunteer with numerous other church and community organizations. Dick was known to be an avid reader and sports enthusiast, both participant and fan. He loved the Colorado mountains, especially Big Elk Meadows where they had a family cabin. Dick dedicated his life to Jesus Christ in 1971 and was a deeply committed Christian. He was a man known for his integrity, kindness, and generosity. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He loved attending all the different activities, sporting events, recitals, and celebrations of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his “MacWherter Clan,” as he called them-49 in all!

Dick is survived by his daughters: Katie, Betsy (Jeff), Jenny (Nathan), Martha (Jim); grandchildren: Catherine (Chris), Jenny (Philip), Mary, David (Sarah), Liz (Josh), Jayne (Chris), Kyle (Kristina), Ella, Rebekah, Michael, Anna (Noah); and great grandchildren: Edmund, Margaret, Abigail, Madeline, Blakely, Hudson, William, Luke, Baby girl due May 2026, Judah, Eli, Titus, Joy, Peter, Finn, Daphne, Harvey, Layla, Jadon, Liat, Audrey, Eviana, Josephine, and Theodore. Dick is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, and his beloved wife, Mary.

On Monday, March 9th, a visitation will be held from 1:00-2:30pm at Adamson Life Celebration Home in Greeley, Colorado. On Wednesday, March 11th, a memorial service will be held at 10:30am at Brave Church in Englewood, Colorado, followed by a military burial service at Fort Logan National Cemetery at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to The Resource Center in Greeley or The Gary Sinise Military Foundation supporting American Military Heroes.